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A hands-on workshop at Garfield Farm Museum in Campton Hills will walk participants through the full process of turning raw flax into spinnable fiber, one of the oldest textile crafts in Illinois history.
The June 13 event is the second in a two-part series led by fiber artists Tom and Joanne Blodgett, who have been raising and processing flax for more than 40 years.
Here's what to know:
The program itself: Participants work through rippling, breaking, scutching, and hackling — the hands-on sequence that transforms harvested flax into fiber ready for spinning. Active participation is capped at 15 people and requires pre-registration.
The instructors: Tom and Joanne Blodgett have taught spinning and weaving since 1981 and currently work as interpreters at Blackberry Farm in Aurora, giving them deep roots in both the craft and the region.
Can't commit to the full workshop? Observers are welcome without pre-registration for a $20 donation. You can watch the demonstrations, ask questions, and take part in discussion.
Cost and registration: The full workshop requires a $40 donation. Register by calling 630-584-8485 or emailing [email protected].
Garfield Farm, a 374-acre site being restored as an 1840s working farm museum just west of Geneva off Route 38, is hosting the workshop as part of a broader conversation about sustainability and the future of natural fibers.
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